The topic of Public Health and horses encompasses the study of interactions between equine populations and human health systems. It involves examining the transmission of zoonotic diseases, which are diseases that can be transferred between animals and humans, as well as the role of horses in the epidemiology of such diseases. This field also considers the impact of equine-related activities on public health, including injuries and environmental effects. Research in this area often explores preventive measures, management strategies, and policies to mitigate health risks associated with horses. This page compiles peer-reviewed research studies and scholarly articles that investigate the intersection of equine and public health, focusing on disease transmission, risk assessment, and health management strategies.
Tantaoui-Elaraki A, Mekouar SL, el Hamidi M, Senhaji M.From 10 moldy straw samples collected in a Moroccan area with an apparent equine stachybotryotoxicosis outbreak in November 1991, 8 isolates of Stachybotrys atra were obtained. They all showed toxigenesis, however they were variable in nature and intensity. While 1 isolate had only mild toxicity when fed to mice as moldy barley, another revealed very high toxicity to Artemia saline larvae, or rat skin, and to mice. The toxicity of the other 6 isolates were between these 2 limits. This study indicates that the November 1991 outbreak was due to toxigenic strains of Stachybotrys atra.
Hobbs GD, Yealy DM, Rivas J.A retrospective chart review was conducted to define the demographic and injury patterns of patients presenting to the emergency department (ED). The setting is a rural/small urban tertiary care center with approximately 40,000 visits per year. All patients presenting to the ED from January 1986 through December 1990 with equestrian-related injuries were enrolled in the study. Measurements included age, sex, mechanism of injury, injury or injuries diagnosed, admission to the hospital, morbidity, and mortality. A total of 142 patients met the inclusion criteria. The majority of injuries occurre...
Atwill ER, Mohammed HO, de la Rua-Domenech R.A total of 2,579 serum samples from horses in New York state during 1985-1986 were examined for seropositivity to Ehrlichia risticii using the indirect fluorescent antibody technique. Cluster analysis statistical technique was used to group counties according to their estimated EME-disease rate (seropositive proportion of sampled horses). Counties were clustered into 4 groups of different EME-disease rates, representing high (86% seropositive), medium (66% seropositive), medium-low (47% seropositive) and low (6% seropositive) risk regions. The logistic regression statistical technique was used...
Turell MJ, Beaman JR, Neely GW.The vector competence of Aedes taeniorhynchus (Wiedemann) and four strains of Aedes albopictus (Skuse) was assessed for eastern equine encephalitis (EEE) virus isolated from Ae. albopictus collected in Polk County, Florida. Both species became infected with and transmitted EEE virus by bite after feeding on 1-d-old chicks that had been inoculated with EEE virus (viremia = 10(10.1) plaque-forming units [PFU] per ml of blood). However, when fed on an older chick with a lower viremia (viremia = 10(6.1) PFU per ml of blood), Ae. albopictus was significantly more susceptible to infection (90%, n = ...
Atock MA, Williams RB.In the large majority of cases and circumstances, horses benefit from their association with man. However, abuse of horses can occur, due to neglect or through the pressures of competition. The welfare of all animals, including competition horses, has become increasingly topical over the past ten years. Equestrian sport is coming under closer public scrutiny due to reports of apparent abuse. The bodies responsible for regulating these sports strenuously endeavour to protect the welfare of horses which compete under their rules and regulations. The Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI: Int...
Forster HV, Pan LG.Our objective was to gain insight into the role of the carotid chemoreceptors (CC) in the exercise hyperpnea. Humans and ponies were studied at rest and during submaximal exercise breathing room air. In healthy humans, alveolar ventilation (VA) was tightly matched to CO2 production (CO2) resulting in PaCO2 deviating during exercise less than 1-2 mm Hg from rest. In contrast, ponies' VA increased proportionately more than VCO2 during exercise resulting in a workload dependent hypocapnia. Attenuating CC activity through hyperoxia had no effect on exercise PaCO2 of humans but hyperoxia accentuate...
Coles GC, Borgsteede FH, Geerts S.As a result of a recent European Union meeting on anthelmintic resistant nematodes of farm animals, a list was made of nine proposals for research and five to control anthelmintic resistance. The most important were the need to have standardised and new tests to monitor the development and spread of resistant nematodes in sheep, goats, horses, cattle and pigs, and for education of veterinary surgeons and farmers in the optimal control strategies to be used to delay the development of anthelmintic resistance in nematodes.
Maddison JE.Fifty-nine reports of suspected adverse drug reactions (ADRs) were received by the Adverse Drug Reaction Subcommittee of the Australian Veterinary Association from April 1992-March 1993 inclusive. The number of reports received/number of animals involved per species was: dogs (30/43); cats (11/14); horses (8/10); cattle (9/30); ferret (1/1). Of these, 37 (63%) were classified as definite ADRs and 12 (20%) as probable ADRs. In 10 (17%) reports an ADR could not be substantiated or there was insufficient information available to make a decision. Twenty-three reports involved apparent hypersensiti...
Nelson DE, Rivara FP, Condie C.To determine patterns of helmet use and attitudes toward helmets among horseback riders, we analyzed a subset of data (n = 1,834) from a cross-sectional mail survey of horseback riders conducted from July to December 1991. Riders were randomly selected from the mailing list of a national mail-order company that sells horseback-riding equipment. Of 900 English-style riders, 517 (57.5%) wore helmets on their last ride, compared with only 81 of 684 (11.8%) Western-style riders. Among 546 riders who did not own helmets, their most commonly cited reasons included believing that helmets were unneces...
Jakob HP, Eckert J, Jemmi T, Gottstein B.For many decades trichinellosis has not been reported among Swiss domestic pigs. Considering the fact that Trichinella occurs in a sylvatic cycle in Switzerland, a study was designed to reevaluate the present epidemiologic situation by investigating 10,904 fattening pigs, 218 pigs with free access to pasturage or being kept on an alp, 104 domestic boars, 106 horses, 44 wild boars and 538 foxes using a direct and an indirect diagnostic technique (digestion method and serology with ELISA and an excretory/secretory antigen, respectively). The digestion method was performed according to EC-guideli...
Niskanen R, Lindahl J, Mokka R, Korkala O.Horse-related injuries form a notable part of sports and leisure time accidents. 54% of the injured were female riders under the age of 20 years. The most serious injuries were upper extremity ones. Over one third of the riders had suffered previously from horse-related injuries.
Weaver SC, Hagenbaugh A, Bellew LA, Gousset L, Mallampalli V, Holland JJ, Scott TW.Evolution of viruses in the eastern equine encephalomyelitis (EEE) complex was studied by analyzing RNA sequences and oligonucleotide fingerprints from isolates representing the North and South American antigenic varieties. By using homologous sequences of Venezuelan equine encephalomyelitis virus as an outgroup, phylogenetic trees revealed three main EEE virus monophyletic groups. A North American variety group included all isolates from North America and the Caribbean. One South American variety group included isolates from the Amazon basin in Brazil and Peru, while the other included strain...
Calisher CH.Of more than 500 arboviruses recognized worldwide, 5 were first isolated in Canada and 58 were first isolated in the United States. Six of these viruses are human pathogens: western equine encephalitis (WEE) and eastern equine encephalitis (EEE) viruses (family Togaviridae, genus Alphavirus), St. Louis encephalitis (SLE) and Powassan (POW) viruses (Flaviviridae, Flavivirus), LaCrosse (LAC) virus (Bunyaviridae, Bunyavirus), and Colorado tick fever (CTF) virus (Reoviridae, Coltivirus). Their scientific histories, geographic distributions, virology, epidemiology, vectors, vertebrate hosts, transm...
Xiao L, Herd RP.Prevalence and infection patterns of Cryptosporidium and Giardia infections in horses were studied by a direct immunofluorescence staining method. Faecal examinations of 222 horses of different age groups revealed Cryptosporidium infection rates of 15-31% in 66 foals surveyed in central Ohio, southern Ohio and central Kentucky, USA. Only 1 of 39 weanlings, 0 of 46 yearlings, and 0 of 71 mares were positive. Giardia infection was found in all age groups, although the infection rates for foals were higher (17-35%). Chronological study of infection in 35 foals showed that foals started to excrete...
Letson GW, Bailey RE, Pearson J, Tsai TF.An Eastern equine encephalitis (EEE) outbreak in 1989 led to nine human and 196 equine cases, chiefly in coastal Atlantic and Gulf Coast counties. In the past two decades, EEE age-specific incidence and mortality rates have declined compared with earlier years. Analysis of rainfall patterns in areas where human EEE cases occurred between 1983 and 1989 revealed an association between occurrence of human cases and excess rainfall. The association was stronger with data from local weather stations than from statewide rainfall averages and the predictive models were best when applied to northern s...
Gowen RR, Lengel JG.The control of drug use in performance horses and the policing of rules and regulations to prevent unauthorized drug use are important tasks for agencies overseeing equestrian events. This article describes the roles of the American Horse Shows Association, the Federation Equestre Internationale, and the Association of Racing Commissioners International, Inc, in the policing of drug use in horses competing in events under their control.
Vodkin MH, McLaughlin GL, Day JF, Shope RE, Novak RJ.Eastern equine encephalomyelitis virus (EEEV) has been a low-frequency, but serious human and veterinary health problem. Increased frequency of this mosquito-borne virus is anticipated as wetlands are maintained and re-established. Control of EEEV has depended on mosquito abatement in response to increasing frequency of EEEV in the environment. A coupled reverse transcription/polymerase chain reaction assay was designed to rapidly, sensitively, and specifically detect EEEV RNA. The assay successfully detected the viral RNA in a single-blind study of a set of field samples composed of either po...
Gerken DF, Sams RA.Although all the factors discussed in this article may have an effect on drug withholding time estimates, the factors that have the potential for the greatest effect or that have been found to cause positive tests in the past are 1. Dosage: Increasing the drug dosage will require a longer withholding time. 2. Dosing interval: Narrowing the dosing interval will require a longer withholding time. 3. Administration route: In general, oral administration results in lower peak plasma concentrations but may result in longer excretion in the urine and therefore longer withholding time. 4. Drug intera...
Epe C, Ising-Volmer S, Stoye M.The results of the coproscopical examinations in horses, dogs, cats and hedgehogs between 1984 and 1991 are presented. In 9192 samples from horses 55.5% stages of strongylids, 4.0% of Parascaris equorum, 2.2% of anoplocephalids, 1.6% Strongyloides westeri, 0.7% of Oxyuris equi, 0.6% of Eimeria leuckarti, 0.2% of Fasciola hepatica and 0.04% of Dictyocaulus arnfieldi were found. In 48.0% of the 46 samples from donkeys eggs from strongylids were detected, in 17.4% larvae from Dictyocaulus arnfieldi, in 2.2% eggs from Strongyloides westeri, Parascaris equorum and oocysts from Eimeria leuckarti, re...
Giebel G, Braun K, Mittelmeier W.In a retrospective study we reviewed 262 horse riding related injuries in children younger than 16 which were treated between 1975 and 1989 at the Section of Traumatology in the Department of Surgery, University Hospital Homburg/Saar. In 155 of these accidents, detailed information was gained via a questionnaire. The typical patient profile was that of young female equestrians with little experience and little weekly riding practice, without practicing falling-exercises and warming up often using different horses. At the time of the accident only 59% were wearing a head protection. Most accide...
Magnarelli LA, Anderson JF.In a retrospective study, indirect fluorescent-antibody staining methods were used to detect immunoglobulins to Ehrlichia canis and Ehrlichia risticii in canine and equine sera that had originally been analyzed for antibodies to Borrelia burgdorferi. Analyses of 60 dog serum specimens collected in Connecticut and New York State during 1986 revealed antibodies to E. canis in 7 (11.7%) specimens; titration endpoints ranged from 1:40 to 1:320. Three of these dogs had anemia. Of the 187 equine serum specimens obtained in Connecticut during 1985 and analyzed by indirect fluorescent-antibody stainin...
Apt W, Aguilera X, Vega F, Alcaíno H, Zulantay I, Apt P, González V, Retamal C, Rodríguez J, Sandoval J.This study sought to estimate for the first time the prevalence of fascioliasis among the rural population in the Chilean provinces of Curico, Talca, and Linares, while also determining the disease's prevalence among horses and wild rabbits in Curico and Talca and among pigs in Talca. From January 1986 to December 1990 a randomly selected sample of 5,861 persons in the three provinces was given intradermal, complement-fixation, double-diffusion, and immunoelectrophoresis tests to detect antibody to Fasciola hepatica. In addition, the ELISA test was used in Talca and Linares. Fecal specimens fr...
Maddison JE.Fifty-nine reports of suspected adverse drug reactions (ADRs) were received by the Adverse Drug Reaction Subcommittee of the Australian Veterinary Association from April 1992-March 1993 inclusive. The number of reports received/number of animals involved per species was: dogs (30/43); cats (11/14); horses (8/10); cattle (9/30); ferret (1/1). Of these, 37 (63%) were classified as definite ADRs and 12 (20%) as probable ADRs. In 10 (17%) reports an ADR could not be substantiated or there was insufficient information available to make a decision. Twenty-three reports involved apparent hypersensiti...